On an ordinary North Carolina street inside municipal limits, no different speed limit has been set or posted. What is the default maximum?
Correct answer: 35 mph.
The statutory default inside municipal limits is 35 mph unless another lawful limit applies. Conditions can require a lower safe speed; the default is not permission to ignore hazards.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 20-141(a), (b)(1), (d)-(f): Speed restrictions; current enacted text reviewed September 13, 2026 ↗
A same-direction bicyclist is neither turning nor signaling left, and all other passing requirements are satisfied. Under North Carolina's exception to a marked no-passing restriction, what minimum gap is required if your car does not completely enter the left lane?
Correct answer: At least 4 feet between the vehicles.
This limited exception requires at least four feet of separation OR complete entry into the left lane, together with every other condition in G.S. 20-150(e). It is not permission to pass with obstructed sight distance, an oncoming conflict or another applicable prohibition.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 20-150(a)-(f), especially (e)(1)-(5): Limitations on privilege of overtaking and passing; current enacted text reviewed September 13, 2026 ↗
For a left turn at an intersection with no special directions modifying the turn, which approach lane does North Carolina's general rule require?
Correct answer: The leftmost lane lawfully available to traffic moving in your direction.
Approach in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available for your direction. This does not mean entering an oncoming lane, and official turn-path directions can modify the general method.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 20-153(b), (c): Turning at intersections; current enacted text reviewed September 13, 2026 ↗
On a street with a 35 mph speed limit, your planned turn may affect another vehicle. For at least how much of the approach must you signal continuously?
Correct answer: The last 100 feet before the turn.
For this situation, maintain the signal continuously for the last 100 feet before turning. You must also make sure the movement can be completed safely; signaling does not give priority.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 20-154(a), (b): Signals on starting, stopping or turning; current enacted text reviewed September 13, 2026 ↗
Two cars going straight reach an uncontrolled intersection from different roads at about the same time. You are the driver on the left. What must you do?
Correct answer: Yield to the car on your right.
When vehicles approach or enter from different roads at approximately the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. This scenario has no officer or traffic control establishing a different priority.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 20-155(a): Right-of-way; current enacted text reviewed September 13, 2026 ↗
You are about to enter a highway from a private driveway. Who has the right-of-way under North Carolina's entry rule?
Correct answer: Vehicles approaching on the highway you will enter.
A driver entering or crossing a highway from a driveway, private road, alley or building entrance must yield to all approaching vehicles on that highway. Do not treat the driveway as an equal-priority intersection.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 20-156(a): Exceptions to the right-of-way rule; current enacted text reviewed September 13, 2026 ↗
A properly marked school bus is stopped to load passengers on an undivided two-lane road. Its red lights are flashing, but its stop arm has not extended. What must an approaching driver do?
Correct answer: Stop fully; the flashing red lights are enough to trigger the duty.
For a properly marked bus stopped to receive or discharge passengers, the law applies when the mechanical stop signal OR flashing red lights are displayed. Do not wait for both devices or for a child to enter the road.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 20-217(a), (b), (c): Motor vehicles to stop for properly marked and designated school buses; current enacted text reviewed September 13, 2026 ↗
A properly marked school bus is stopped for passengers with red lights flashing on the opposite roadway of a highway separated by a physical barrier. What does North Carolina's school-bus law require of you?
Correct answer: It does not require your opposite-direction vehicle to stop for that bus.
The law excepts opposite-direction traffic on a separate roadway across an intervening space or physical barrier. This does not excuse traffic approaching the bus on its own roadway, and other hazards may still require slowing or stopping.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 20-217(a)-(c): Motor vehicles to stop for properly marked and designated school buses; current enacted text reviewed September 13, 2026 ↗
A road has two through lanes in each direction plus a center left-turn lane. A properly marked school bus on the opposite side stops for passengers with red lights flashing. Which statement is correct?
Correct answer: Opposite-direction traffic is excepted from stopping for that bus.
The center left-turn lane qualifies because this road has at least four additional lanes. The exception is for opposite-direction traffic across the separation, not for drivers following the bus.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 20-217(a)-(c): Motor vehicles to stop for properly marked and designated school buses; current enacted text reviewed September 13, 2026 ↗
Which voice call is expressly excepted from North Carolina's age-specific moving-vehicle phone ban for a driver under 18?
Correct answer: A call solely to communicate with the driver's parent.
The age-specific statute expressly excepts communication solely with a parent, legal guardian or spouse, along with specified emergency communications. This legal exception is not a recommendation to drive distracted; separate texting rules still apply.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 20-137.3(b), (d): Unlawful use of a mobile phone by persons under 18 years of age; current enacted text reviewed September 13, 2026 ↗
An adult rides in the rear seat of a passenger car manufactured with seat belts. The car is moving forward on a public street, and no statutory exception applies. Must the adult wear the belt?
Correct answer: Yes; the requirement includes rear-seat occupants.
The ordinary seat-belt requirement covers each occupant, not just front-seat occupants, while the vehicle moves forward on a street or highway. The scenario expressly excludes the statute's specific exceptions.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 20-135.2A(a), (c): Seat belt use mandatory; current enacted text reviewed September 13, 2026 ↗
A driver transports a 14-year-old in an ordinary seat-belt-equipped car, with no exception applying. Whose duty under North Carolina's child-restraint statute is it to ensure that the passenger is properly secured?
Correct answer: The driver transporting the child.
The statute places the duty on every driver transporting passengers younger than 16 to have them properly secured in an appropriate restraint or seat belt. It is not shifted away merely because a child is a teenager or a parent is absent.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 20-137.1(a), (b): Child restraint systems required; current enacted text reviewed September 13, 2026 ↗
Rail maintenance equipment is plainly approaching a crossing close enough to be a hazard. Does North Carolina's railroad-stop statute apply even though no conventional train is present?
Correct answer: Yes; it expressly includes on-track equipment.
Current G.S. 20-142.1 covers railroad trains AND on-track equipment. Plainly visible equipment in hazardous proximity is an independent stop condition; the older handbook's quoted statute omits that wording.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 20-142.1(a)(1)-(4): Obedience to railroad signal; current enacted text reviewed September 13, 2026 ↗
Separate from the weather-and-wiper provision, North Carolina requires lights when insufficient light prevents clearly seeing a person on the highway at what distance ahead?
Correct answer: 400 feet.
The insufficient-light provision uses 400 feet. The statute has separate sunset-to-sunrise and weather/wiper requirements; do not confuse this particular threshold with the separate 500-foot severe-visibility language.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 20-129(a)(2), distinguished from (a)(4): Required lighting equipment of vehicles; current enacted text reviewed September 13, 2026 ↗
A police vehicle is stopped within 12 feet of the roadway with warning lights on. You are in the nearer of two lanes in your direction and can change lanes safely without interfering with traffic. No official directs otherwise. What is required?
Correct answer: Move into the lane farther from it and stay there until safely clear.
When the stated lane-change conditions are met, move out of the lane nearest the stopped authorized vehicle and remain in the farther lane until safely clear. Slowing is the specified alternative when there is only one lane or a safe lane change cannot be made.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 20-157(f)(1), with (f)(2) distinction: Approach of emergency vehicles - move over; current enacted text reviewed September 13, 2026 ↗
